China to spend $111 billion on police

China will spend $111.6 billion on its police forces in 2012, the government said Monday, as it focuses on quelling rising social unrest ahead of a 10-yearly leadership change. Despite nearly two decades of annual double-digit economic growth, social stability in China has remained a challenge due to massive urbanisation, rising expectations and a widening gap between rich and poor.
Public security spending will increase by 11.5 percent to 701.7 billion yuan, more than the 670 billion yuan earmarked for national defence, the finance ministry said in its 2012 budget. The announcement came after Premier Wen Jiabao listed the challenges facing his government.